CHIP hosts leadership conference in Elyria

Martin Leibas of CHIP and Paul Chavez, son of a Mexican-American labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, celebrate The Coalition for Hispanic/Latino Issues and Progress’, CHIP, 23rd Annual Hispanic Leadership Conference at the Lorain County Community College’s Spitzer Conference Center April 28. Chavez was the keynote speaker and shared stories of leadership and perseverance. The event introduced this year’s initiative of “Breaking Barriers.”
Briana Contreras — The Morning Journal

Paul Chavez, son of a Mexican-American labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, shared stories of leadership and perseverance at The Coalition for Hispanic/Latino Issues and Progress’, CHIP, 23rd Annual Hispanic Leadership Conference at the Lorain County Community College’s Spitzer Conference Center April 28. The event introduced this year’s initiative of “Breaking Barriers.”
Briana Contreras — The Morning Journal

The Coalition for Hispanic/Latino Issues and Progress hosted a 23rd annual Hispanic Leadership Conference at the Lorain County Community College Spitzer Conference Center to introduce an initiative of “Breaking Barriers.”

CHIP’s annual event welcomed 60 local, state and national nonprofit Hispanic and Hispanic-serving organizations April 28 to discuss their mission of “Abriendo Puertas,” opening doors, through providing information on major issues affecting the Hispanic/Latino and other communities.

Many community organizations, residents and youth groups were invited to celebrate this year’s theme of “Breaking Barriers,” and were provided with resources.

The annual conference was sponsored by Mercy Health — who provided free medical services during the event — and many others.

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To kick off the event after an early, provided breakfast, the Lorain High School JROTC opened with a performance.

Then Paul Chavez, the son of a Mexican-American labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, served as keynote speaker.

Chavez, 61, made his first visit to Lorain County to share his father’s legacy of never quitting the fight when you are faced with an issue, and staying true to your faith.

The president and chairman of the Cesar Chavez Foundation, an organization founded by his father, Chavez recalled his father’s activism and wisdom.

Cesar Chavez fought for the conditions of farm workers in the National Farm Workers Association, founded in 1962.

Viewing a photo of his father in Lorain helping laborers at Sacred Heart Church in the early 1980s, Chavez said his father had tremendous faith in people and would always help them. He said Lorain always received his father with open arms.

“Even though he was Latino and encouraged Latinos, his message about opportunity and fairness are really universal messages that have helped lots of people from all walks of life,” Chavez said.

He added that the same fight his father fought is a multicultural effort.

“His message resonated with many people,” he said.

While growing up he faced many hard challenges, he said. However, he recalled a message by his father that has always had an affect on him: “You only lose when you quit fighting.”

So he carried on his father’s legacy after he died in 1993 by addressing social needs of people and youth through the Cesar Chavez Foundation.

The efforts of the Hispanic Leadership Conference honors his father in a way he would be most proud: inspiring people to try their hardest and fight, Chavez said.

He concluded in excitement, “si se puede,” yes you can, when facing any challenge.

The conference also showed a 2014 documentary, “Cesar’s Last Fast,” for those interested in learning more of his father’s story.

Workshops were presented by Lorain County school officials, police officers, outreach coordinators, counselors of the Board of Mental Health and more.

Each workshop was meant to create awareness on cyber bullying, suicide prevention, immigration, History of the local Hispanic community, education, economic policy, labor laws, health and cuisine and Latina women in leadership.

According to Juanita Senquiz, CHIP’s president, the conference along with CHIP’s mission is to provide leadership and advocacy in education, public service, philanthropy, social services, public health, labor, legal matters and the development of youth.

Alisha “Ali” Pardon, co-director of the conference, said the event is all about providing guests with resources and connections.

Pardon said many Hispanics in the community may not be aware of the resources out there, so, they wanted to bring the resources to them.

She said the youth and adult workshops can benefit many with a more hands-on learning experience.

“The whole goal is to leave here feeling informed and powerful to be able to move forward,” she said. “When you walk out of here, you should be inspired to go out and do something for your community.”

Pardon and Carmen Leibas, also a co-director, both held the position for three years.

However, they both said they have spent many more years involved in CHIP and have never seen an event as big as this one.

“The UAW started this conference 23 years ago, and we want to continue the tradition and show that our fight is still going,” Leibas said.

Pardon and Leibas said they were happy to have Chavez share his and his father’s stories.

“These last two days have been very empowering and this is why Carmen and I do what we do,” Pardon said.

The conference was part of a two-day celebration following a showing of the “Cesar’s Last Fast” documentary on April 27 at the Emerald Event Center in Avon. A gala then followed the conference which concluded the celebration of the annual event.